When comparing Sonar vs Mixcraft 7, the Slant community recommends Sonar for most people. In the question“What are the best DAWs?”Sonar is ranked 10th while Mixcraft 7 is ranked 25th. The most important reason people chose Sonar is:

The Sonar DAW comes with a new and improved UI with extra focus on being customizable.

Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking

Pros

Pro

Highly customizable UI

The Sonar DAW comes with a new and improved UI with extra focus on being customizable.

Pro

Powerful mixing including ProChannel

A Pro Channel ensures that you have all the necessary plugins in a really good mixing rack with console emulation for all busses and channels. This feels and sounds like a real mixing console.

Pro

Built in vocal comping and pitch correction

The Sonar DAW has some of the best pitch correction available, and it comes with the DAW.

Pro

New version just came out no more x series its Platinum Professional and Artist now

Lots of new features to separate them from the pack and put them in the lead again like when they were the very first DAW to go 64 bits. New model for purchasing the DAW means a purchaser can pay a monthly fee to use the DAW instead of having to buy it all upfront, so now you can try it for a month or 4 and if it does not work for you, dump it without having spent the full price to buy the whole thing.

Pro

Great bundled instruments

Pro

Includes Addictive Drums 2

Pro

Touch screen support

If your computer has a touch screen, use gestures to optimize your workflow.

Pro

Integrated SoundCloud and YouTube uploads

When you're done with a project, upload it straight to SoundCloud or YouTube from the Sonar DAW.

Pro

Integrated drum replacement

Pro

Includes Melodyne Essential via ARA

Pro

Session Templates

New projects can have the entire session defined from a template. Tracks, IO, folders routing, Etc

Pro

Very Frequent Updates

The last few years they have given updates with new features AND fixes nearly EVERY MONTH! great support, constant innovation.

Pro

Vocal Alignment tool

Pro

Add effects plugins to individual audio or MIDI clips

In addition to an effects rack and ProChannel effects that you can insert into each track, SONAR also allows you to insert effects plugins on individual audio or MIDI clips.

Using the non-destructive editing, you can easily cut one of those clips into smaller pieces if you'd like to apply an effect non-destructively to an individual note or musical phrase.

Pro

Track Folders

Group tracks in to folders to expand/collapse Solo Mute or Archive

Pro

Inexpensive

For under 200 USD, you get the full version of the DAW with all the bells and whistles, and free stuff that comes in the bundle you would not get from another DAW.

For less than 200 USD more, you get free updates for a lifetime. Any future updates with the SONAR Platinum DAW is free when you have this pass.

They have sold the SONAR Platinum DAW with the LIFETIME Pass key as a bundle from June 01, 2016-Aug 01, 2016. It's already over but who knows when it will comeback? The team from cakewalk are just generously full of surprises.

Pro

Highly flexible audio routing

In SONAR Platinum you can create an unlimited number of audio tracks, patch points, aux tracks and busses. Each track can send its output or an unlimited number of aux sends to any patch point or bus. A patch point can route to any number of aux tracks. Each aux track or bus can send its output or an unlimited number of sends to any other patch point or bus. (* A patch point is a destination where audio can be sent from any output or aux send, while an aux track is a track that receives its input from a patch point. This allows the track to be used similarly to a bus, with the additional flexibility of allowing multiple aux tracks to get their input from the same source point, and the organizational convenience of having the track alongside other tracks, instead of in the separate bus area.)

Pro

Inbuilt bridge

Includes inbuilt bridge allowing a 64-bit software to use a 32-bit plugin and vice versa without having to painstakingly use an external bridge to bridge the plugins. This will save one from bridging every new plugin that isn't compatible.

Pro

This DAW now comes with a new version ( Version 8 )

Pro

Good amount of VST plugins to choose from

Supplied with many cheap and cheerful VSTs and VSTIs.

Pro

Inexpensive

Pro

Very intuitive interface

Cons

Con

Windows only

This DAW isn't available on any operating system except for Windows. However, many Mac users operate the Sonar DAW in a dual boot environment.

Con

Gibson owned (they're almost Bankrupt, $500,000.00 in Debt)

Many feel with the "Lifetime" subscription, really hurt Cakewalk as there is no more monthly/yearly income. Most likely the IP will be sold as Gibson is in a bad financial situation (they owe about half a Billion $ due early next year) They are one of the all time "Great" guitar builders.

Con

Steep Learning Curve

This DAW has a bit of a learning curve, if you're new to DAW software, this may not be recommended for a beginner.